Bottle-capping machine.



L. BARTLETT. BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE. APyLIoATIoN FILED APR. 1, 1909.

Patented 0011111911.

WWM'

*entre srarrnerafrniar ernten..

JJENARD BARTLETT, (SF EHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGMU TIG B'ARTLETT CPPXNG MACHINE CMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANA. AGORPOB.-

BOTTLE-APPNG MACHINE.

Speccation of Letters latent1 rateaeea oet'. ratori.

application ined Apr-ui, 1909. ser-iai ne. 4mes.

described in which means are providedL to.

prevent the breakage of bottles that are longer than the normal length. f

A further object 's to provide a bottle capping machine thatv is simple in construetion, easy to adjust," and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

rlhe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichM Figure 1, `is an elevation of a bottle capping machine constructed according` to my invention, a part being broken away to show 'illustrated in Fig. 3;

the construction; Fig. 2, is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 1, with parts broken away; Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the compensating device on an enlarged scale; and, llig. 4, is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the bottle platform and connections.

ln the drawing like numerals of reference refer to the same parts in each of the views;

and in practice I provide a bottle capping machine Vcomprising a base, 5, a column, or standard 6, a vertically movable capping head 7, and an ad'l'ustable bottle'platform El, I The'capping head 7 is mounted in a sliding block 9, vertically movable on the shaft 10, and operated by the connected with the crank arnrlQ, operated by the belt pulley 13, or in any 'desired manner.

The construction of the parts between the shaft 11, and the crank arm 12, embodies an essential part of my invention, and is adapted to form a compensating device to prevent a greater pressure being applied to bottles even if longer than usual than whatl is actually required to insure the secure treating,- of the seal. A part of this construction is and'is of the following detail: The 'shaft 11, passes through a guide block, or stein 14, and is provided on .the lower end with a yoke l5, in which is pivot.- ally ,mounted a flat har lli, having' notches 17, and 18, in the opposite edges thereof,

shaft l1, which is' particularly shown in Fig. 3, in which rest normally the wheels 19, and 20, respectively, of the pivotally mounted arms Q1, and Q2.

These arms are mounted on a slide 23, har 1G, passes; and to through which the this slide are secured the links 24, and 25, by means` of screws, as 2G, and angled extensions, as 2l', which engage the top of the slide. These links are secured to a block 28, mounted on the crank pin 29, so that the slide 23, is compelled to slide, or move up and down 'with the rotationof the crank, as

-will be readily" understood; and as the arms 2l, and 22, are mounted on the slide 23, these arms will be carried up and down at each rotation of the crank; and if the wheels 19, and 20, carried b v these arms, remain seated in the notches 17, and 18, as they will-normally, the bar 16, shaft 11, and head 7, will be drawn down at each downward movement of the crank arm.

The lower end of each arm 21, and 2Q, is bifurcated; and in each bifurcated end Vis a bushing, as 30, having a slot 31; and an opening` 32, provides for easy 'access through the column and a 33, serves to close the opening` 32. Within the bushing 30, is a coil spring` 34, one end of which surrounds a projection on the slide 23; the bushing 30, being* closed at the outer end, the tension of the spring 34, can be regulated by screwing' the bushing out, or in, as will be readily understood, so that the wheels 19, and 20, will be held more, or less firmly in the notches 17, and 18, as may be desired. Passing through the bifurcated end of each of the pivotally mounted arms below the bushing` is a holt, as 3G, which will draw the bifurcated ends together to lock the bushing in any adjusted position.

l also provide an adjustable bottle platform S, which is mounted on the column 6, as particularly shown in Figs. l and 4. As shown, the column Vis provided on the front with achannel 37, central of which is a rack 38, and a pawl 39, and handle 40, serve as quick adjustingl `means for`the platform.

pivotallv mounted door This platform isprovided with guides 41,"

and gibs 42,3vhich are bolted to the face the column and serve to Vsecure the platform in place in a slidahle manner so that' it can he easily adjusted for dillerent bottles.

The operation is as iollows: The bottle Y' normal bottle.

platform ,havinf been adjusted to the proper position, a bottle as 43, is mounted thereon, and then by means of thev trip 44, l :the crank arm 12, is made to rotate, carrying with it on the downward stroke the head '7, until it contacts with the bottle. This head 7, is ot' any desired construction adapted to apply a seal to a bottle.v Then the head contacts with the bottle, the downward pull on 'the slide 23, will cause the wheels 19, and Q0 to travel outward on the inclined surfaces 4-5 and 46, forming the lower walls of the notches, thereby increasing the tension on the bottle and seal; but should the, bottle be longer than usual, the wheels will leave the notches 17, and 18, as shown in 3, and will travel down the vertical sides ot the bar 16, so that after the wheels have passed out ot the notches, the tension of the springs 34, will not be increased, andthe tension on the bottle will not be increased and the bottle will not be broken even it considerably longer than the lt will. be understood that at the iirst contact of the head with the seal, the same will be forced into locking engagement with the bottle, and the subsequent movement of the head will not-aect the sealing ot' the bottle., lt will thus make-no diiterence whether' tension is maintained on the seal, or not. its a matter of fact, however, the movement ot the head .is so rapid that the friction of the wheels against the sides oi' the bar 18, will be suiiicient to maintain practically the same pressure until the end of the stroke. l

lt will thus be seen that l have provided simple and etlicient means to prevent the breakage ot' bottles; and that by my invention l am able to place all the parts of the compensating device within the column ot' the capping machine thereby adding to the neatness ot the appearance ot' the machine as well. insuring the protection otl the working parts. Then, too, by making the adjusting device of the bottle platform as shown, theinachine can be adjusted quickly,

- and ,'ca-n be made at, a. comparatively small cost.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure byl Letters Patent ct the United States, is

l. A bottle capping machine comprising a coluuml and base, a bottle platform adjustably mounted thereon, vertically movable capping head mounted above said platform, a power mechanism at the base of said column, means within said column tol connect said head and said power mechanism, and a tension regulaping device and compensating mechanism forming a part ot' said connecting means within said column, for the purpose set forth.

2. A bottle capping machine comprising a column and base, a bottle platform mounted thereon, a vertically movable capping head mounted above said plattorma power mechanism at the base of said column, means within said column to connect said head and said power mechanism, anda tension regulating .device and compensating mechanism forming a part'ot said connecting means, said compensating mechanism comprising connecting means with tension regulating means adapted to permit disconnection when a certain pressure is reached.

3. A bottle capping machine. comprising a column and base, a bottle platform adjustably mounted thereon, a vertically` movable capping head mounted above said platform, a power mechanism at the base of said column, means within said column to connect said head and said power mechanism, and a tension regulating'device and compensating mechanism forming a part ot said onnecting means, said compensating mech` anism comprising a notched connecting bar,

a sleeve mounted thereon connected with the power shaft, friction wheels on said sleeve adapted to engage said notches elastically., and means to increase the tension on said wheels.

e. A bottle capping machine comprising an. adjustable bottle platform, a vertically movable head, power mechanism, and means connecting said pow-er mechanism and said head, said connecting means comprising a shaft, a pivotally connected har, a slide on said bar, arms, or levers, pivotally mounted on said slide, links connecting said slide withthe power mechanism, wheels on said arms, said bar having notches with downwardly and outwardly inclined walls, said wheels Ybeing normally seated in said notches, and springs in the lower ends of said 'arms adapted to hold said wheels seated in said notches, for the purpose set forth.

Ina bottle capping machine, a comlpensating device mounted between the power mechanism andthe capping head, said compensating device comprising a bar,

a Aslide mounted thereon, said bar having f notches in the edges thereof, arms pivotally mounted on said slide, springs adjustably mounted in the lower ends of said arms, and wheels in the .upper ends of said arms adapted to engage said notches, for the purpose set forth.

Signed this 30th day of' March, 1909.

' LEONARD BRTLETT. Witnesses:

P. A. CONROY, G. l). VAN lVYE. 

